Popular sprinter The Tin Man is on the mend after undergoing surgery on a career-ending leg injury sustained on the gallops.
The nine-year-old flag-bearer for the James Fanshawe stable fractured a cannonbone in a routine workout, and is recovering in Newmarket Equine Hospital.
The Tin Man was being prepared for a seventh season in action, albeit at a lower level than for most of a career which saw him win three Group Ones – the British Champions Sprint in 2016, the Diamond Jubilee (2017) and Haydock‘s Sprint Cup (2018).
“He’s had an operation, and they’ve put three screws in his cannonbone – he took the operation well and he’s nice and comfortable,” said Fanshawe.
“He’ll obviously be retired from racing. Long-term he’ll be fine – he’ll be able to find a new career. I don’t know what that will be, but I’m sure we’ll find something useful for him to do.
“He’s been an amazing horse for the yard, and I know we weren’t intending to race at the same level this year, but he seemed to still be enjoying his training – and thank goodness he’s been repairable.
“He won £1.2million and won nine races – three of which were Group Ones. He was one of the horses bought for the Fred Archer syndicate, and he’s a wonderful advert for that.”
